Evernote Your Stuff by Lissanne Oliver

As a creative peep myself, I know it can be tricky to manage all the ideas, inspirations and references that are used to create. Collecting, storing and retrieving can be a challenge.

If you're anything like me you’ve used a random collection of sticky notes, scraps of paper, notebooks, browser bookmarks and bits and bobs torn from magazines and newspapers.

The old way of doing things:



Thanks to a tip from Joshua Zerkel of Custom Living Solutions I discovered a new way of doing things. It's called Evernote.

What makes evernote special? As they say, “Capture, organise, find.” Evernote is many things: a dumping ground, a search tool, an organising tool. It’s searchable, you can use tags, you can store snippets of text, URLs, photos, voice notes, sketches, literally anything you can think of. It will also recognize your handwriting so can search your (scanned or photographed) handwritten notes; amazing! I think it’s a great place for all those bits of info I *might* need or want to lay my hands on without thinking too hard about it.
It’s an app, a web based application, downloadable software from your computer. It automatically syncs across all mediums. Best of all, it’s free.


Here’s some ways I use evernote:

* I scribe creative ideas- say, an idea for a newsletter theme or blog post for time management and call the note “Next Newsletter”. I could also tag the note if I wanted say “time management" or "productivity" so I can easily retrieve multiple notes easily.

* I collect notes into notebooks - house renovations, Professional Organiser Training and recipes are just three of my notebooks, but you can have dozens of notebooks (or folders, if you like).

* I created a screen grab of my company web colours so I could be consistent with design across mediums. It’s safe in Evernote. And if it wasn’t in Evernote, where would I put it for goodness sakes?

* I dump images of decorating or design for inspiration.


Photo source: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/942134/

* Notes scribbled from a phone call are photographed on my webcam and uploaded so I can chuck the scrappy note and have a clutter free space. love it!

* I take a photo on my iphone of supplier opening hours can simply name the ‘note’ with the name of the store.

* I archive PDFs of my existing newsletters so I can know when I last mentioned a particular concept or tip.

Blowing your mind yet? Evernote really is “remember everything”. I don;t want to mess with your head, but the above are just the starting point... in the future, everyone will use Evernote. I swear I'm getting and Evernote tattoo.

There are so many ways you can use Evernote. Do you use is? Have you used it for task or project management? I’d love to hear!

Top five Storage solutions by Lissanne Oliver

What the frick is a storage solution? It sounds like a crazy promise to me! Your storage problems are rarely about the storage you have, rather the content you own (too much) and where that content is located. Containerisation should always be second to dealing with your content.

1. Do a storage audit! Where is your most valuable storage and why? Are you storing little used items in your prime real estate?

2. Make sure your content marries the location. Don't be afraid to use containers from the kitchen for desktop storage; a pretty vintage tin marries function and form

3. Do you do mail order? A shipping station is a must!

4. Hang it up. Scissors, tapes, swatches, notepad, etc work beautifully on hooks. Making better use of horizontal space means you have space to plan and work.

5. Do you have a place for UFOs (unfinished objects)? If you don't have a 'home' for these items, designate one now. I like a shelf or secondary workbench for stacks, piles and groups of to dos. A clothes rail + bags + coathangers also works a treat for fashion / textiles on the go.
We love Multix Resealable Storage Bags (extra large for around $4 at Coles).

6. Clear containers are great if you want to view what you've got, but remember that with good labelling (can be visual as opposed to words) opaque containers will give you a more streamlines look.


TIPS:

* Remove lids from any container you have on a shelf - the box or tub will act more like a drawer and be easier to get to.

* Your desk top or workbench is for working not for storing.

* We love gigantun zip lock bags! they are great for soft, light materials or excesspackaging.

* Empty boxes are only useful when you put stuff in them.



All photos courtesy of Lissanne Oliver/SORTED! organising & decluttering and may not be used without permission.